One Another – Living in Community – Love One Another

Some say that this is the most selfish and self-centered generation. Maybe they are right, maybe it is the most self-centered and selfish generation that we know. The problem is that we somehow are responsible for that. We not only are part of this generation, but our children, and for some of us, grandchildren, are part of it. So we and our parents raised this generation which put us right in the center of this whole debate.

Love is not part of our first nature. We are born loving ourselves. We do everything in life to be loved and to get what we love. This is the modus operandi of the world. This is how a person without Christ behaves. It is in our DNA. We were born selfish and self-centered. Jesus said that in the last days, the love of most will grow cold (Matt. 24:12). It is easy to understand that people who do not know each other do not show love for each other, but this command is directed not to strangers. It is directed to brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus made clear to His disciples that among them it would be different. They would treat each other based on different principles, principle stablished by Jesus Himself. This is what He said to the disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34.”

The Eerdmans Dictionary defines love as: “An inner quality expressed outwardly as a commitment to seek the well-being of the other through concrete acts of service.” I would add to this definition the word sacrifice. Love is more an action based on our will rather than on our feelings. Today we reverse this concept. We think that love is just a feeling, an emotion, and if we do not feel anything we do not move or act. The love that Jesus asked His disciples to have and show is beyond that. In John 13:35 He says that our love for others would reveal the true disciples. In John 13:34; 15:12, 17; 1 John 3:23; 2 John 5, we learn that love is a commandment. When we read those verses the first thing that comes to mind is, I cannot do it, I just can’t. And we are right. We cannot produce this kind of love by ourselves. This love is the fruit of God’s presence in our lives. To love like this, we will need to be born from God. This is what the apostle John wrote: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7.” He also wrote that when we love like this, it is because God lives in us: “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12.” It is His presence and His work in us that will enable us to love each other.

My brother and sister, let the love of God flow through you and reach out to your brothers and sisters around you.